Dear friends, tomorrow we will be gone.

We don't know when or if we will ever be back. We don't really know where we are going, another world, another realm, another time ...we just don't know. We never know. When you're a portal jumper, not knowing is part of the deal.

If you find this notebook, please read it carefully. You should know what you are getting into before you decide to follow us.

Where should I begin? I think I'll start by going back to last week, when I found it. I'd been foraging and exploring the woods. Portals were the last thing on my mind, as it has been so long since I've seen one.

While foraging in the woods, I felt a familiar vibration, like bees and butterflies in my belly. A portal? Oh my goodness, please let it be a portal, I'd thought. Musical songbirds and chimes filled my ears, and I knew I was close to one.

I decided to go back and get my husband before searching any further. I leaned up against the tree to rest for a moment before heading back to the cabin. As my arm rested upon a beautiful mossy tree, the buzzing and twinkling became explosive and in a dizzying moment I felt myself falling backwards.

With a loud thud, I landed on the ground. I'd found a portal!

I stood up and cautiously looked around. I was no longer in my forest, though the same lovely mossy tree stood behind me. This was good: it meant I could go back and get my husband. Falling through was a rookie mistake. I could have ended up in a one way portal, unable to return. After looking around for a few moments I passed back through the portal. I was relieved to see the familiar forest and log cabin.

I raced back to the house, my heart pounding and my head spinning with excitement. We'd been searching for a portal for two years. I tore open our front door, hollering "Honeeey come quickly, I found one!"

After a quick exchange of words, we ran back out to the mossy tree. Xwalkran placed both hands on the mossy bark. He could hear the chimes, and could feel the warmth, and his hands passed through the tree. Everything would work! But before leaving, we needed to pack.

As we discussed the journey, Molly and Mischa ran past us and leaped through the tree, happily! How long have they known the portal was here?!

We hurried back to the cabin and packed our few belongings. Portals are inconsistent and can stay open for hours, days or weeks. I am so sorry that we can only spare time to write this short letter. I hope you'll understand that we had no choice but to pack quickly and make the jump.

If you decide to follow us, it is important to know that you won't be able to take anything unnatural with you. Plants, herbs and natural fibres cross through perfectly so please select your items carefully. I will bring three natural medicines with me to help us though the next journey.

I took the jar of eucalyptus. My apologies if you were hoping to find some. Eucalyptus is a powerful respiratory aide and one of the best natural remedies I have found to alleviate asthma. It is also anti fungal and antibacterial and can help with skin issues, as well as disinfect surfaces. It is helpful as an insect repellent, for stress relief, dental hygiene and as an aide for muscle pain and small wounds, insect bites and other minor skin problems.

This will be very useful to me and as you know, I use it often.

I also took some arnica. Don't worry though, there is plenty on the shelf for you. Arnica will help to alleviate burns, sprains and the aches and inflammation in our joints. I think it might also be useful in the event of trauma. This sort of lifestyle can be physically difficult and I think this will be valuable to us.

I've also taken some St. John’s Wort. We'll use it to sooth our nervous system and regulate the hormonal balance of our bodies if we end up in a situation that is overwhelming. This is an occupational hazard when you are a nomadic portal jumper.

My bag is packed and I leave this place with a sentimental heart. We've grown fond of the forests, the birds, the oceans and lakes, but some things about this place scare us. We don't understand the use of chemicals, the destruction of natural resources or the hunger that plagues so many that live here. We'll keep jumping until we find that place that calls for us to stay.

As soon as I seal this letter, we'll head out into the woods with our furry companions by our side and bid this place and time adieu.

Goodbye friends and remember, if you decide to find the mystical tree and enter the portal, bring only natural things with you. The entities that guard the portal are easily angered.

May we meet again some day.

---

This post is in response to @naturalmedicine's Survival medicine contest where we are asked: What would be your 'survivor' natural medicines?

This challenge asks you to look carefully at your natural medicine first aid kit and ask: what plants or other natural remedies would be the best ones in a survival situation? You can only choose three. Of course there needs to be a creative story to go with it.

Contest entries are due November 10th so there's still plenty of time to enter!!

---

[@walkerland ]
Building a greener, more beautiful world one seed at a time.
Homesteading | Gardening | Frugal Living | Preserving Food| From Scratch
Cooking|

You can also find me at: walkerland.ca |
Facebook

Photos copyright: @xwalkran & @walkerland